Dog that improved Alabama pet protections dies

Gucci, a dog whose rescue from torture led to improved animal protection laws in Alabama, has died.

The Times Daily in Florence, Ala., said Doug James, who adopted the chow-husky mix, euthanized the 16-year-old dog.

“I had dreaded it, and put if off for two or three days,” said James, who lives in Mobile. “His kidneys were failing him.”

In the final days, Gucci reached the point he couldn’t control his kidneys and was unable to walk freely. He began losing clumps of fur.

“I finally thought, it’s just not dignified for him,” James said. “This was too much for him. He didn’t deserve to go through this.”

James had caught some children torturing Gucci in 1994, hanging him by the neck and setting him on fire. Word of the case spread and sparked a campaign that led to the Pet Protection Act, better known as the Gucci Law.